Houston Marine receives Navy Cross

Houston Marine receives Navy Cross
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 200456172127
Story by cpl. Luis Agostini

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (May 6, 2004) -- Marine Pfc. Joseph B. Perez received the Navy Cross Medal from the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, during an awards ceremony Thursday at Marine Corps Air-Ground Training Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Perez, 23, a Houston, Texas, native, received the naval service's second highest award for extraordinary heroism while serving as a rifleman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom April 4, 2003. The Medal of Honor is the highest military award.

Three other Marines received medals for valor at the same ceremony.

"They are the reflection of the Marine Corps type who's service to the Marine Corps and country is held above their own safety and lives," said Gen. Hagee, commenting on the four Marines who received medals during the ceremony. "I'm proud to be here awarding the second highest and third highest awards for bravery to these great Marines."

"These four Marines are a reflection of every Marine and sailor in this great battalion," said Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada.

1st Platoon came under intense enemy fire while clearing near Route 6 during the advance into Baghdad. Perez, the point man for the lead squad, and therefore the most exposed member of the platoon, came under the majority of these fires.

Without hesitation, he continuously fired his M16A4 rifle to destroy the enemy while calmly directing accurate fires for his squad. He led the charge down a trench destroying the enemy and while closing and under tremendous enemy fire, threw a grenade into a trench that the enemy was occupying.
While under a heavy volume of fire, Perez fired an AT-4 rocket into a machine gun bunker, completely destroying it and killing four enemy personnel. His actions enabled the squad to maneuver safely to the enemy position and seize it.

In an effort to link up with 3rd Platoon on his platoon's left flank, Perez continued to destroy enemy combatants with precision rifle fire. As he worked his way to the left, he was hit by enemy fire, sustaining gunshot wounds to his torso and shoulder.

Despite being seriously injured, Perez directed the squad to take cover and gave the squad accurate fire direction to the enemy that enabled the squad to reorganize and destroy the enemy.

"It is unreal, it is not what I expected, it is unbelievable," Perez said. "This is real weird for me, because, I am not big on special events," said Perez.

In effect since April 1917, and established by an Act of Congress on Feb. 4, 1919, the Navy Cross may be awarded to any person who, while serving with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself/herself in action by extraordinary heroism not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor.

The action must take place under one of three circumstances: while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party. To earn a Navy Cross the act to be commended must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk and must be performed in such a manner as to render the individual highly conspicuous among others of equal grade, rate, experience, or position of responsibility.

More than 6,000 Navy Crosses have been awarded since World War I.

-30-

To: Professional Engineer; msdrby; Alkhin; My back yard; Bear_in_RoseBear; Rose in RoseBear; ...

Outstanding job to one of our own!!!

Texas Ping!

21 posted on 05/06/2004 6:52:11 PM PDT by Wneighbor (Texas. Land of opportunity! No restrictor plates here!)

Where do we find such men?

Texas! God Bless 'em every one!

22 posted on 05/06/2004 6:53:41 PM PDT by Wneighbor (Texas. Land of opportunity! No restrictor plates here!)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

More than 6,000 Navy Crosses have been awarded since World War I.

Not very darn many considering the number of Marine/Navy folks who've served. WOW

23 posted on 05/06/2004 7:00:34 PM PDT by Professional Engineer (Distinguished drop-out of the Why the Heck Should I Care School of Society.)

To: Professional Engineer

Found you... was wondering!

24 posted on 05/06/2004 7:10:17 PM PDT by Wneighbor (Texas. Land of opportunity! No restrictor plates here!)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

"It is unreal, it is not what I expected, it is unbelievable," Perez said. "This is real weird for me, because, I am not big on special events," said Perez."

They're still makin' some good ones in Texas.

25 posted on 05/06/2004 7:45:33 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (I used to support Kerry. Then I changed my political philosophy. Now I support Kerry.)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Gotta luv them Tejas Jarheads! Hoo-ahh! Brave young man. America is full of them.

26 posted on 05/06/2004 7:46:59 PM PDT by Feckless

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

27 posted on 05/06/2004 9:58:57 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Wonderful young man. Texas is very proud indeed.

28 posted on 05/06/2004 10:26:43 PM PDT by texasflower (in the event of the rapture.......the Bush White House will be unmanned)

Wow, he was kicking bu** !
1st Platoon came under intense enemy fire while clearing near Route 6 during the advance into Baghdad. Perez, the point man for the lead squad, and therefore the most exposed member of the platoon, came under the majority of these fires.
Without hesitation, he continuously fired his M16A4 rifle to destroy the enemy while calmly directing accurate fires for his squad. He led the charge down a trench destroying the enemy and while closing and under tremendous enemy fire, threw a grenade into a trench that the enemy was occupying. While under a heavy volume of fire, Perez fired an AT-4 rocket into a machine gun bunker, completely destroying it and killing four enemy personnel. His actions enabled the squad to maneuver safely to the enemy position and seize it.

29 posted on 05/07/2004 2:47:23 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (There is ONLY ONE good Democrat: one that has just been voted OUT of POWER ! Straight ticket GOP!)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

30 posted on 05/07/2004 3:54:48 AM PDT by OXENinFLA

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

31 posted on 05/07/2004 6:37:03 AM PDT by windchime (Podesta about Bush: "He's got four years to try to undo all the stuff we've done." (TIME-1/22/01))

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

33 posted on 05/07/2004 9:55:35 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl; Happy2BMe; MeekOneGOP; PhilDragoo; ntnychik; potlatch; Alamo-Girl; Travis McGee; ..

Outstanding thread for an outstanding American soldier.

Posting this from my personal forwarded email (before getting to FR today) to an outstanding FReeper, "Ragtime Cowgirl"!

Watching (D-CT) US Senator Joe Lieberman speak to Donald Rumsfield right now; Joe is the only democrat praising our troops and not attempting to make political points on TV like even (R-AZ) Senator McCain did earlier.

As much as Lieberman has done stupid partisan things and flip-flopped in the past, on this one issue we must give Joe a back pat on the back.

Thank you Joe Lieberman!

34 posted on 05/07/2004 10:16:36 AM PDT by devolve (................... ...........................Hello from Sunny South Florida!..................)

"As much as Lieberman has done stupid partisan things and flip-flopped in the past, on this one issue we must give Joe a back pat on the back."

I concur/agree wholeheartedly - was impressed with his integrity.

35 posted on 05/07/2004 10:33:59 AM PDT by Happy2BMe (U.S.A. - - United We Stand - - Divided We Fall - - Support Our Troops - - Vote BUSH)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Just emailed this story to my Military-family friends. I can't tell you how proud it makes this old fart to be able to count among my loved ones Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen.

36 posted on 05/07/2004 10:38:21 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, thank a soldier.)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

More than 6,000 Navy Crosses have been awarded since World War I.

My grandfather was awarded one in WWII at the age of 42. He would have been proud of this kid.

37 posted on 05/07/2004 10:43:45 AM PDT by dirtboy (John Kerry - Hillary without the fat ankles and the FBI files...)

Yeah, I must say that Lieberman does have a pinch of honor in him sometimes.
Unlike the others that were making STUMP SPEECHES instead of making inquiries today.
McCain was as hateful as ANY of the Democrats, worse than SOME, imho.

38 posted on 05/07/2004 11:14:20 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (There is ONLY ONE good Democrat: one that has just been voted OUT of POWER ! Straight ticket GOP!)

To: MeekOneGOP; Mia T; Happy2BMe; PhilDragoo; potlatch; ntnychik; Liz; hope; jennyp; donna; Howlin

Not made up or posturing for cameras by Joe Lieberman today either.

It must really be hard to go "party line" for Kerry for Joe knowing John Kerry-Kohn-Khan-Con and his UN agenda will destroy Israel.

His staff should be alerted to FR comments on this.

Even (R-SC) Senator Lindsey Graham was out of control: "We're talking about rape and murder......"

As these are criminal prosecution matters these Senate Showboats need to understand they are giving investigators and prosecutors a roadblock and any future trials and/or Court Martials will be compromised and statements by whacko big mouthed politicians on TV will mean lowered charges and prosecutions and convictions and certain appeals sustained and verdicts and penalties thrown aside.

39 posted on 05/07/2004 12:12:12 PM PDT by devolve (................... ...........................Hello from Sunny South Florida!..................)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Thanks for the great post. I'll bet his mother is proud.

40 posted on 05/07/2004 11:47:57 PM PDT by microgood

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794